Still Loved: The Welcome & The Message

I vividly recall the day it all began. I was in the shower - why does it always happen in the shower? While reflecting on Isaiah 6—a passage my pastor had preached on just weeks before. As I meditated on verses 5-7, I felt an overwhelming wave of humility. Despite my flaws, God still chose me and forgave me. It was a moment of profound realization. I began to ask myself: "What am I doing to share my story? How am I spreading the gospel beyond the walls of my church?"

Like Isaiah, I’ve known the weight of sin and shame. I've felt a deep sense of unworthiness and disgust with myself. In those moments, instead of confronting my reality and seeking repentance, I chose to hide—hide from myself, from others, and most importantly, from God.

Romans 3 reminds us that all sin is equal in God's eyes. During that shower, I confronted the ugliest parts of myself. For the first time, I truly felt Jesus transforming my life because I never before questioned if I needed transformation. There is a difference between transformation and modification. I wanted transformation. Not a quick fix to appeal the moment or the eyes watching - but a full 360 change. It struck me as odd because I was raised in the church, so why did it feel so real now? The answer was simple: I had been hiding.

I hid when I was abused at the age of seven.

I hid behind screens, watching things I knew I shouldn’t.

I hid the fact that I was sexually active before marriage.

I hid my struggles with depression and anxiety—just like many in my family did.

I hid, believing that if it stayed hidden, it wasn’t real.

Growing up, instead of being taught to confront what was broken, I learned to conceal it. "Don’t tell anyone," my mother would say, because that’s all she knew. "They’re going to judge you," and indeed, they did.

But here we are now. God has given me a new task: to create a space for women, not tied to a church, where we can talk freely about the things that may feel too taboo within the church walls. The Lord showed me that through community, speaking aloud what we’ve hidden, asking for prayer, and most importantly, learning what the scriptures say about how He sees us, we can find healing. This is what we need, especially as women in today’s world.

And so, the Hem Community was created during a breakfast date with my cousin Arlene who is insanely creative. Inspired by the story of the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew and Mark, we are women seeking healing—women who have been pushed aside by our own versions of society. Whether it's family, church hurt, or our own self-doubt, we've been where the woman with the issue of blood was. We've reached out in desperation, pushing through the crowds, to touch the hem of His garment and receive our healing. And just like her, we’ve found a new identity in Christ.

This space is where we heal together, sharing our hearts, holding each other accountable, and learning the Word—because that’s what truly transforms us. My hope is that you’ll embrace this time with an open heart and join me in praying for this vision to grow. I believe this is a place where women will find salvation and transformation.

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I read this in one of my studies and wanted to share: 

“When David wrote this verse, he understood his personal struggle against sin, and how he sometimes failed in that struggle. He also understood that God’s answer for transgressions is an atoning sacrifice that God provides. David was humble enough to say, iniquities prevail against me. “No man was ever rejected by God for his confessed badness.” It invites us to approach God knowing that He has forgiven us and has atoned our sins. 

The vision of the theme for today came from a moment in community. My cousin and I, again, were hanging out and sharing what God has been doing in our lives - and even those areas we still struggle with that we may wince at. When thinking about what to refer to today as, this theme of STILL BEING LOVED despite ourselves kept coming up. 

Psalms 65:3 “Though we are overwhelmed by our sins, you forgive them all.” and it took me back to when I was drowning in guilt, and in the shame of my sin and how a MOMENT changed everything. Just like the woman with the issue of blood in Mark chapter 5, it just took a moment. In that moment, her shame, her guilt and her sickness was gone. 

I want to ask you today - what is that “MOMENT” you need to happen to know He has called you daughter?

For me, that moment came in 2022 when I told my husband I was tired of living a life of christian routine that lacked substance. I wanted to know the God the woman with the issue of blood met, I wanted to know the God who time and time again was there for King David despite his downfalls - and truly approach his presence knowing HE could change my life. Not relying on man - or how man thought my walk should look like - but having a real, raw walk with Christ. On December 17, 2022 my husband and I gave our life to Christ again after living a lukewarm life. That same day, we eloped and my cousin actually married us. It may have not been the “traditional” way - but it was the way that brought freedom to us - and allowed us to walk in the righteousness God called us to. After giving God our TRUE yes, the amount of fruit we saw produced because of that Yes was so overwhelming to witness - and confirmation time and time again that when God places something in your heart, even if it doesn’t make sense to others - it will open a floodgate of blessings and bring restoration. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

It was our “yes” that led to me restoring my relationship with my sisters after almost 5 years.

It was our “yes” that led many people in Carlos’ life - friends, family etc. give their life to Christ. 

It was our “yes” that led us here right now. 

Whatever you need to do to give God your yes, is worth it.

You may lose people along the way, the things you used to do will no longer bring fulfillment to you, your speech changes, the way you look at people changes - and that’s because when you give God your yes, the old is truly gone and the new takes over. Let Him make you new and give you a new identity. 

For the woman with the issue of blood, the non-traditional way to get her healing was to push through the crowds and touch the hem of His garment. A gesture of her faith in that moment. 

What is it that you need Jesus to make well? His FULL attention is on you. He has called you daughter. The old has past, the new is here: a new identity.

Mark 5:25-34